When did the US exist?

The United States was officially established on July 4, 1776, with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It became a recognized nation after the end of the Revolutionary War, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The U.S. Constitution, which laid the framework for the federal government, was ratified in 1788 and took effect in 1789. Since then, the United States has existed as a sovereign nation.